About the Book

The fragility of the liberal democratic state after 1789 is illustrated in the history of the European Jews from the French Revolution to the Holocaust. Emancipation and hope of emancipation amongst the European Jewish population created a plethora of Jewish identities and forms of patriotism.

This book takes the original approach of studying European Jewish patriotism as a whole, with particular attention given to creative literature. Despite their growing awareness of racial, genocidal hatred, most European Jews between 1789 and 1939 tended to be patriotic toward the countries of their citizenship, an attitude reflected in the literature of the time.

Yet, the common assumption among emancipated Jews that anti-Semitism would fade in a world governed by reason proved false. For millions of European Jews, the infinite possibilities they associated with emancipation came to nothing. The Jewish experience exposed many of the weaknesses and failings of the liberal multicultural state, and demonstrated that its survival cannot be taken for granted but is dependent on vigilance and struggle. By focusing on Jewish patriotism from 1789-1939, this book explores the nature of the liberal state, how it can fail, and the conditions needed for its survival.

Table of Contents

Preface 1. Between Hope and Terror: The European Jews, 1789-1939 2. Patriotism and its Limits in Germany 3. Jewish Patriotism in Austria-Hungary 4. Patriotism and East European Jews 5. Jewish Emancipation, Patriotism and anti-Semitism 6. From Patriotism to Militant Zionism: European Jewish Army Service 1789-1939 7. Zionist Patriotism and anti-Semitism, 1897-1942 8. Literary Warnings of the Holocaust 9. Love unrequited: the failure of Jewish emancipation 1789-1939 10. Historical Roots of European Anti-Semitism and Jewish Patriotism Conclusion

About the Author

Professor David Aberbach teaches in the Jewish Studies department at McGill University, Montreal. He has published twelve books including Jewish Cultural Nationalism (Routledge, 2010) and Imperialism and Biblical Prophecy (Routledge, 2011). His research interests focus on the relationship between literature and the social sciences.

About the Series

Studies, which are interpreted to cover the disciplines of history, sociology, anthropology, culture, politics, philosophy, theology, religion, as they relate to Jewish affairs. The remit includes texts which have as their primary focus issues, ideas, personalities and events of relevance to Jews, Jewish life and the concepts which have characterised Jewish culture both in the past and today. The series is interested in receiving appropriate scripts or proposals.